EU refuses to lift ban on Pakistani air carriers, including PIA, cites understaffing and safety oversights

The European Union (EU) has yet again refused to lift the ban on Pakistani air carriers including Pakistani International Airlines (PIA). According to the Pakistani news outlet ARY News, the regional body conducted a meeting in this regard.

During the meeting, the EU did not find any grounds for amending the current list of air carriers banned from operating within the Union. The decision came after a comprehensive review by the EU Air Safety Committee.

The review involved on-site evaluation of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and sample assessments of Pakistani air carriers Fly Jinnah and Airblue Ltd, ARY News reported.

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The onsight assessment team identified shortcomings

As per the reports by the Pakistani news outlet, the on-site assessment was conducted between November 27 and 30, 2023. The main motive for conducting a review was to identify the PCAA’s role and responsibility in safety oversight.

During the on-site assessment, the team identified several shortcomings, including insufficient scrutiny in closing findings based on proposed corrective actions rather than actual evidence, and deviations from established procedures.

The committee also found that the PIA was experiencing severe understaffing. The number of staff was set below the Flight Standards Directorate.

Meanwhile, Fly Jinnah, one of the air carriers which was also facing the wrath of the EU was assessed as well. The committee pointed out the need for improvement in record keeping and management of findings.

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Following the assessment, the PCAA presented a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) on May 6, 2024, and elaborated on the steps taken to address the identified issues. However, the ban on Pakistani aircraft carriers is still not lifted.

“Regular technical meetings in Brussels and progress reports from the PCAA will be part of this ongoing oversight,” the recent EU report said. The EU eventually decided not to lift the ban and urged the member states to continue verifying compliance through ramp inspections.

The commission went on to warn the Pakistani airlines that any revelation of imminent safety risks could eventually lead to further actions.